Prior to agreeing to the new standards, the SGIP agreed that the outlines and regulations were necessary in order to fully realize the energy-efficient smart grid. Now in place, the governing body's rules address the constant need for monitoring and upgrading certain wireless communication technologies, as well as for smart electricity meters at households, as the smart grid will evolve over the next several years. The new standards and guidelines are just one of the SGIP's many "Priority Action Plans" (PAPs).

"The standards and guidelines resulting from PAP 0 and PAP 2 are crucial to ensuring that metering devices can be upgraded remotely and reliably, and that the sort of fast, efficient wireless communications typical today with cell phones becomes a part of the future electricity grid,” said SGIP Administrator Erich Gunther.